New Delhi, April 14 -- Top actors, who in the recent past could pull audiences to cinemas on their sheer star power, are no longer able to guarantee box-office success, a reality that theatre operators are finding hard to cope with.

Earlier, theatres wouldn't think twice before placing films starring top Bollywood stars within the highest bracket of ticket rates-known as blockbuster pricing. But with many big films having sunk without a trace, theatres may now be forced to rethink their high-ticket-price strategy.

With titles such as Salman Khan's Sikandar costing upwards of Rs.450 in metros in the second week of release, despite a negative word-of-mouth and running to empty houses, trade experts say it is clear top names no longer ensu...